Chapter 5

In her previous life, Chi Yiyi only saw Chi Junshu’s true colors during the most difficult time of her life—when she was grieving the loss of her son. Her own nephew had died, but Chi Junshu still took the side of Chi Bilian and Zhou Zixiao like a loyal dog.

Chi Yiyi was so infuriated back then that she fell seriously ill and was bedridden for several days.

After that incident, Chi Yiyi completely severed ties with this younger brother.

But now, what right did this Chi Junshu have to stand on a moral high ground and lecture her on how to behave?

Chi Yiyi walked over and smack—gave him a hard slap across the face.

Chi Junshu’s head snapped to the side, his mind buzzing from the force.

“Chi Yiyi!”
Chi Daqiang thought she was trying to make an example of her brother right in front of him.

Sensing the fury radiating from Chi Daqiang, Zhou Zixiao immediately pulled Chi Yiyi into his arms to protect her.

“Uncle Chi, please don’t get angry. It’s my fault today. I’ll come back tomorrow to pick Yiyi up. Tonight, I’ll go home and convince my parents,” Zhou Zixiao said quickly.

Chi Daqiang suppressed his overwhelming anger for the sake of Zhou Zixiao.
“Zixiao, I don’t care what made you miss your own wedding today. Tomorrow, your Aunt Lin and I will prepare a table of good food and drinks. Bring your parents over. Let’s have a meal together and settle this like family.”

Zhou Zixiao smiled with relief. “Absolutely. I won’t let Uncle Chi or Yiyi down tomorrow.”

Chi Yiyi was cursing in her heart—mmp, she had been planning to clear out the Chi house so she could leave for the countryside soon.

She remembered all the years of being emotionally manipulated into scrimping and saving to raise Chi Junshu. Not only that, she had given her entire two years’ salary to the family. Now that she had her own space, there was no way she’d leave without emptying the Chi house first.

Chi Junshu had been holding it in, waiting for Zhou Zixiao to leave. As soon as he was gone, he exploded.

“Sister, how could you slap me?!”

Chi Yiyi replied coolly, “It’s only right for an older sister to discipline her younger brother.”

Chi Daqiang clenched his fists, but remembering the Zhou family’s upcoming visit, he forced himself to hold back.

Zhou Residence.

Zhou Zixiao returned home and, unable to persuade his parents, shamelessly knelt down.

“Dad, Mom, I really love Yiyi. Please just humble yourselves and go to the Chi house for dinner tomorrow—for me, okay?”

Father Zhou sighed and said nothing.

Mother Zhou spoke up, “I really don’t like that Chi Yiyi. Her family background is too low. Marrying into our family is clearly a step up for her. She used to at least try to be proper, but her behavior today was extremely disappointing.”

“Zixiao, think carefully. Do you really love her that much? If so, why did you choose to be absent on such an important day as your wedding?”

Before Zhou Zixiao could respond, his sister-in-law Li Fang, who was standing nearby, interjected.

“Zixiao, even Aunt Xiao, who dislikes Chi Yiyi, knows you shouldn’t have missed your wedding. And you claim to love her? You don’t even realize you’ve wronged her deeply.”

Zhou Zixiao felt like he’d been slapped by his sister-in-law’s words. He was speechless. Deep down, he also felt that no matter the reason, missing the wedding was unforgivable.

Li Fang continued, “We all know exactly how Chi Yiyi’s father became the workshop director. Zixiao, you need to think carefully—do you really want to marry her? If you do, their whole family will be clinging to ours for life.”

Although Father and Mother Zhou both found Li Fang too blunt at times, she came from a good background and was sharp-minded. And this time, she’d voiced exactly what they were thinking.

Mother Zhou asked, “Zixiao, did you understand what your sister-in-law just said?”

Zhou Zixiao hesitated for a second, then nodded firmly.
“Yes, Mom. I understand.”

It was the first time Mother Zhou saw such a determined look on her son’s face. She was just about to be pleased, thinking he had matured.

Then Zhou Zixiao solemnly declared, “Mom, I still want to marry Chi Yiyi. I won’t make excuses for what I did wrong today. I beg you and Dad to help me just this once. I promise I’ll work hard from now on—and make sure Uncle Chi never comes to bother you again.”

Mother Zhou’s smile froze on her face.

Li Fang chuckled and walked away, seeing how hopeless Zhou Zixiao was.

Father and Mother Zhou were practically fuming.

Zhou Zixiao stayed on his knees. “Mom, I’m begging you.”

Looking at her only son, Mother Zhou was utterly helpless.

9:00 PM.

After washing up, Mother Zhou returned to her vanity, only to discover that all her bottles and jars were gone.

She turned to look at the bed—it was also stripped bare.

Just as she was feeling unsettled, Father Zhou screamed from the study:

“Ah! We’ve been robbed!”

Mother Zhou took a deep breath and rushed to the closet. As expected, all the clothes were gone too.

She was so shocked she nearly collapsed.

She noticed marks showing the wardrobe had been moved.

Her heart leapt to her throat.

It’s over.

If anyone discovered the gold and treasures they were hiding, their entire family would be finished.

Mother Zhou struggled to push the wardrobe aside, then dropped to the ground in shock.

Really over.

“Ahhh!”
She couldn’t help but scream out of fear.

Downstairs, Zhou Zixiao heard the commotion and ran upstairs.

“Mom, what happened?!”

Just as Mother Zhou opened her mouth, Father Zhou appeared and made a silencing gesture.

Mother Zhou’s heart sank completely. The valuables in the study were probably gone too.

She fainted on the spot.

“Mom!”
Zhou Zixiao rushed to her side.

Father Zhou pinched her philtrum to revive her.

Zhou Zixiao suddenly noticed a huge hole behind the wardrobe.

“Dad, your room…”

Father Zhou quickly pushed him out. “Alright, go rest. Your mom’s fine.”

Mother Zhou eventually came to and sobbed, “Yuan’an, someone stole from the wedding!”

Father Zhou replied, “Let’s just consider it a loss and move on. Thankfully, we still have plenty of goldfish (gold bars) hidden elsewhere. It’ll be enough for us to live on.”

Mother Zhou cried harder, “Yuan’an, those jewels and paintings were heirlooms from my parents…”

Father Zhou patted her back gently. “There, there. Consider it a misfortune avoided. Whoever stole those things won’t dare to report it—if they do, we all go down together.”

The Next Day.

Mother Zhou had no energy left to argue with her son. If he wanted to marry Chi Yiyi, so be it. She mustered what strength she had to accompany her husband and son to the Chi house.

Standing at the attic’s vent, Chi Yiyi spotted them arriving. She didn’t expect Zhou’s parents would really lower themselves to come.

Looks like it was up to her to tear the facade apart herself.

Chi Yiyi took out the 3,000 yuan from her space and went downstairs.